The Year the Maps Changed

The Year the Maps Changed
Written by Danielle Binks
Middle Grade, Family, Friendship
304 Pages
Published April 28th 2020
Thank you to Hachette Australia
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★★★★★
I was eleven when everything started and twelve by the end. But that's another way maps lie, because it felt like the distance travelled was a whole lot further than that.

Sorrento, Victoria. 1999.

Fred's family is a mess. Fred's mother died when she was six and she's been raised by her Pop and adoptive father, Luca, ever since. But now Pop is at the Rye Rehabilitation Centre recovering from a fall; Luca's girlfriend, Anika, has moved in; and Fred's just found out that Anika and Luca are having a baby of their own. More and more it feels like a land grab for family and Fred is the one being left off the map.

But even as the world feels like it's spinning out of control, a crisis from the other side of it comes crashing in. When 400 Kosovar Albanian refugees arrive in the middle of the night to be housed at one of Australia's safe havens on an isolated headland not far from Sorrento, their fate becomes intertwined with the lives of Fred and her family, as she navigates one extraordinary year that will change them all.
Down on the Mornington Peninsula, in the small township of Sorrento, the tides are about to change. It's 1999 and for eleven year old Winifred Owen Ricci, her life is experiencing a shift of seismic proportions. Since losing her mother a few years ago, it's been Fred and her stepfather and police officer Luca against the world, her small family unit including her grandfather, who grieved together and supported one another through the loss of their partner, their mother and their daughter. Luca officially adopted Fred at three years of age but when Anika and her son Sam move into her family home, Fred isn't quite sure where she fits in anymore. Luckily she has the neighbours and best friend Jed, short for Jedi and a nickname given to him by his parents that stuck. Jed has been a part of Fred's life forever, through losing her mum, through her roof climbing escapades and now through Anika and Sam moving into the home she once shared with her mother while her grandfather is in a rehabilitation facility after a fall.

It's a quiet part of the world but lately Fred has felt an ache in her chest, the news from overseas blasting in every home across the country, Kosovo Albanian refugees are driven from their homes by the Serbian army, their country left in ruins, destroyed lives and displaced families. The Australian government were adamant that Australia wouldn't help provide refuge but under public pressure, brought the Kosovo Albanian refugees to Australia under the cover of darkness and hid them away in inhumane detention centres. Fred has a beautiful sense of rightness instilled in her, she isn't sure why anyone in town would protest against helping these people flee their wartorn country, like Mister McMillan who owns the cafe on the main strip. For the most part, the people of the Mornington Peninsula are welcoming, including Fred, Anika, Sam and Luca, who is volunteering at the former army barracks now accommodation for the refugee community.

Being eleven is dreadful sometimes. Fred is in her final year of primary school, a new younger brother who's not really your brother and another on the way, Fred feeling increasingly isolated as Anika and Luca gently announce that their family is expanding. Fred's world is being turned upside down and she doesn't like it. One. Bit. The Trần family next door are wonderful, especially Jed's mother Vi, who has been a mother figure for Fred and an incredibly warm, maternal woman. Vi and her husband are both Vietnamese and met in Australia after fleeing their homeland. With so many diverse, non nuclear and blended families within our communities, it was wonderful to see Fred and Jed's families so beautifully written with compassion and care.

This is very much a coming of age story for Fred but where it differs from most middle grade, is that this isn't only Fred's journey, it's the journey of healing and growing for an entire community through the eyes of an intelligent and astute young woman. I see so much of myself in Fred at that age, learning about the many facets of  love, our place within the world and who we want to become. Fred has so many positive role models in her life, Luca and especially Anika. Anika is learning how to parent an almost teen girl and allowed Fred the space to grow and form her own opinions. Although it took a while for Fred to see Anika as someone loving and caring in her life, Anika loved Fred so dearly and is a beautiful example of step parenting written in a positive light.

The secondary characters are lovingly created such as Mr Khouri, their geography teacher who created a fun and inclusive learning environment and Nora, who is a heavily pregnant refugee Fred meets at a hospital visit during Anika's pregnancy. Although most of small town Sorrento and the wider community are welcoming, Fred's friend Aiden begins coming to school with the wildly racist opinions of his father, repeating what's being said at home. Seeing Aiden grow and form his own opinions was such an incredible moment and although he respected his father, he begun to see that he wasn't always right and Aiden didn't need to agree. It was a yes! moment that readers will enjoy.

This isn't a heavy read by any means, there's plenty of lighthearted moments of mischief and laughter but it also raises serious issues such as asylum seekers and how they're treated as less than, especially in Australia. Australia has a terrible history of colonisation and the treatment of First Nations people, we've learnt nothing about the treatment of people and basic human rights. Our current government is the same government who was in power in 1999, when The Year the Maps Changed takes place, same party with interchangeable white men with money. Heartless bastards, the politicians and those who voted for them. The Year the Maps Changed isn't political, instead it provides middle grade readers with the human side of seeking asylum, Nora and children Merjeme and Arta are the fictional faces of those who have been forced to leave their homeland, travel to a strange, new country and then locked up like petty criminals for seeking safety. It only highlights that we're no better than the governments that we vote for and we desperately need to bring about change for the people that Nora, Merjeme and Arta represent.

The Year the Maps Changed is heartachingly beautiful. Danielle Binks has created an exceptional debut novel of warmth, compassion and finding your place in our ever changing world.

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24 comments

  1. I absolutely loved this book. And from your glowing review, I know you did, too. 💜

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    1. Wasn't it lovely and so beautifully written, so glad you enjoyed it too!

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  2. Fred sounds like a remarkable character. That's a whole lot of changes to deal with at such a vulnerable age. It's already a time of such change.

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    1. She's incredibly wise beyond her years and such a lovely young lady. This is absolutely beautiful Tanya, it's gentle and lovely and one of those reads that stays with you long after the final page.

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  3. Sounds like the author did a wonderful job with this story, and that the characters worked their way into your heart. Great review!

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    1. Thank you! I absolutely loved it and I hope this one is picked up worldwide, it's incredible! You should be able to find a copy on The Book Depository if you're keen, I'd love to see what you think of it!

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  4. Brilliant review. There aren't many Middle Grade books which I think will work for me and there aren't many bloggers who can convince me an MG book will work for me but you've managed it in this brilliant review. Poor Fred has a whole lot of changes happen to her and that is awful but it's brilliant that it seems she has an amazing support system.

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    1. It's so beautiful and multilayered, all this from a debut novel as well! I loved that it encourages discussion about very serious issues that are still relevant for children today, diversity, seeking asylum and the inhumane treatment of those displaced. Such an important read that readers of all ages will enjoy.

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  5. Definitely adding this one to my TBR! Fred sounds like a wonderful character, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how her community heals together. Lovely review! I always enjoy a story more when I can see certain parts of myself in a character. It makes me feel more invested in what's happening. :)

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?😷 💬

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    1. I feel exactly the same! At that age, the world just seems so immensely big and then seeing the news and being aware of what's going on in the world, it can be so incredibly overwhelming. Fred had such wonderful role models in her life and this is a great one to read with young middle grade readers as well. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I have!

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  6. "It only highlights that we're no better than the governments that we vote for" So true. This sounds wonderful and I'm so glad that you shared it.

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    1. It's a brilliant read Greg and I'd love to see what you think of it!

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  7. Gosh, this book. First, I like that Danielle Binks has created something that adds some lighthearted moments to such a heavy topic. Fred's family dynamic also makes me look forward to reading this -- there's a lot going on there for her to deal with. This books takes on a couple of topics that would be enough for two different books, and does it well! I'm so happy for DB that this is so good!

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    1. She's certainly a natural storyteller! This is just so utterly charming and a delightful read that tackles some very real issues that play on the minds of preteens. It's magnificent Verushka, you'll adore it!

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    1. It's wonderful Karen, one of those reads that will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers. I'd love to see what you think of it!

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  9. Oh my gosh how I loved this book!!! Fantastic review lovely lady.

    XOXO Sarah.

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    1. Thanks Sarah! It was magnificent wasn't it, I'm stilling thinking about Fred and how delightful she was.

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  10. Oh wow, this sounds so beautiful. I love books for this age, and I like that they are becoming more and more realistic - focusing on tougher topics, but doing so in a way that works for a younger reader. I like that it focuses on the Refugee crisis, as it mirrors today's times, but it's also not something I know much about - not being Australian. Lovely review as always, Kelly! Thanks for sharing. I hope everything is okay with you!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I'm great Lauren and hope you're equally as well lovely.

      The refugee crisis and treatment of those seeking asylum really is a worldwide issue, I don't think it receives as much coverage over there, especially with politics consuming so much of the media. These reads are so incredibly important and also it encourages the conversation between parents and their middle grade aged children about news and current affairs. It's easy to assume that children aren't effected by what they're seeing because they're so resilient but books like The Year the Maps Changed will go a long way to opening up those important conversations and teaching young adolescents empathy as well.

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  11. I'm so excited to pick this one up! I've got it waiting for me to read. Thank you so much for this lovely review.

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    1. It's utterly brilliant Angel, looking forward to seeing what you think of it. Happy reading darling!

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  12. I need to read this. Adding to my list. Thank you for your review.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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    1. Absolutely welcome, looking forward to seeing what you think of it!

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